William Hammond

January 2, 1955 – December 23, 2020

William George Hammond, 65, passed away suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Olathe, KS on December 23, 2020.

Bill grew up in Hornell, NY and then attended the University of Notre Dame where he met his wife, Mary (Flack) Hammond. They were married on January 14, 1977. After Bill completed law school at Notre Dame, he and Mary made their home in Olathe, Kansas. He was a true entrepreneur with a long list of successful businesses to his name. In 1996 he founded KC Elder Law and, in the years since, helped innumerable families plan for the care of their loved ones. Bill had a rich and varied career, working in everything from vacuum sales to marketing to law, but above all considered himself a nexialist – a uniter of people, energy, and ideas across disciplines – and coach. He relished the opportunity to walk alongside others and help them tap into their full potential.

The child of a principal and a librarian, Bill was a lifelong learner and avid reader. He had a keen interest in history – WWII in particular – and was even the proud owner of a first edition of Winston Churchill's memoirs. He loved to travel and in recent years made multiple pilgrimages to some of the world's "thin places" in Ireland and Peru. He took his family on unforgettable trips to Disneyworld, Hawaii, South Bend, New York City and his childhood home in Hornell, NY. He adored his wife and treasured his children and grandchildren. As much as he loved to take them on adventures, he enjoyed just as much spending an evening leading them in a game of Family Feud, watching Irish football on TV (he never could find a loss on their schedule), or taking them out to a movie. He made incredible mashed potatoes and slightly-less-incredible puns, both in absurd quantities. He modeled generosity always: with his time, with his money, with his love. He gave freely and frequently and always without expectation. He loved his family fiercely and his kindness extended to everyone he encountered.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Mary Louise Hammond of Hornell, NY, and his father- and mother-in-law, Tom and Norene Flack of Overland Park, KS. He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of over 43 years, Mary; their five children and two sons-in-law Danny, Katie, Laura (Ben), Matt, and Molly (Rob); and four granddaughters, Logan, Emma-Frances, Claire and Julia. He is also survived by sisters Mary Lou (Dick) Forrester, Nancy (Chuck) Moynihan, Jeannie (Bill) Vetter, and Ellie (Jim) Kinsman; a loving extended family, and countless friends.

The family will be holding a service later this year, when the many family and friends who meant so much to Bill can safely gather. Please visit www.WilliamGHammond.com for details.

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored by memorial contributions to Endeavor (endeavor.org), an organization that will help to further Bill's legacy by providing support and mentorship to the next generation of entrepreneurs, or to the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, IN (www.cfh.net).


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